ALMA Destination Unveils Infrastructure-Completed Mixed-Use Waterfront Masterplan in North Jeddah at REFF, Marking the Next Phase of Vertical Development
ALMA Destination, a 3.125 million square meter master-planned waterfront destination in Obhur/North Jeddah, is making its debut at the Real Estate Future Forum (REFF) as one of the Kingdom’s most comprehensive privately developed water front projects. Designed as a destination within Jeddah, ALMA features a marina-led urban masterplan, with primary infrastructure and utilities completed to plot level, marking the transition into its next phase of vertical development.
Strategically located along the Red Sea coastline in North Jeddah, close by the King Abdulaziz International Airport, ALMA Destination is conceived as a water-centred, mixed-use master-planned development organized into seven integrated districts (neighborhoods) and two distinct central islands, connected by bridges and sea channels.
The masterplan is shaped by interconnected waterways and a newly created 12.5-kilometer waterfront, including a 5.5-kilometer waterfront promenade with navigable canals, bridges, marinas, and public parks. Water serves as the primary organizing element, shaping land use, mobility, views, and lifestyle across the destination.
Developed by Al Thuraya Al Omranya Properties, backed by a group of prominent Saudi businessmen with established track records in real estate development, ALMA Destination is now welcoming developers, hospitality operators, commercial and sophisticated investors, and lifestyle operators to participate in the development of fully serviced, masterplan-aligned plots across residential, mixed-use, hospitality, marina, cultural, and entertainment typologies. Development is governed by a master-developer–defined architectural vision and design guidelines intended to support long-term asset quality and maintain a unified visual identity across the destination.
The seven districts comprise of marina-oriented mixed-use centers, resort and luxury island districts, canal-front residential neighborhoods, integrated urban parks, and dedicated arts and cultural zones. Together, they form a balanced “live, work, play” environment supported by schools, mosques, healthcare facilities, retail clusters, hospitality assets, and community social infrastructure distributed across the destination. A defining characteristic of the masterplan is that the vast majority of development plots benefit from direct sea-facing or water-fronting views, enabled by the project’s canal- and marina-led planning approach, a first for the Kingdom at this scale within a privately developed mixed-use destination.
Connectivity is a defining strength of ALMA Destination. The development is integrated into Jeddah’s regional road network through multiple access points, linking it to major road arterials and future growth corridors extending toward upcoming mega development projects in the surrounding area. Internally, a primary loop road connects all districts, while bridges provide direct access to the islands. Pedestrian and cycling networks run alongside the waterfront promenade and through landscaped green corridors, complemented by water-based mobility that introduces an additional layer of internal movement unique to the destination.
Environmental sustainability has been embedded into the project’s priorities from the outset. Marine and environmental studies informed the design of the canal system and its water circulation and flushing strategies. Coral relocation and replanting programs were implemented prior to marine and canal excavation works to protect sensitive marine ecosystems. The canal network relies on natural flushing without any mechanical intervention, supporting long-term water quality and environmental sustainability while preventing water stagnation.
Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, ALMA Destination supports a national transformation agenda centered on economic diversification, private-sector leadership, and globally competitive urban destinations. Through its mixed-use waterfront masterplan, ALMA contributes to quality-of-life enhancement, tourism development, and urban regeneration, while creating a structured, phased development environment that enables private-sector participation and reinforces long-term confidence in Saudi Arabia’s real estate and economic growth trajectory.
Commenting on the milestone, Zuhair Bakheet, Chief Executive Officer of Al Thuraya Al Omranya Properties, said: “ALMA Destination was conceived as a long-term contribution to Jeddah’s future and its coastline by adding 12.5km of new waterfronts, and by placing water, connectivity, and quality of life at the heart of urban living. With the masterplan delivered and infrastructure in place, ALMA now offers developers a mature platform ready for vertical development.”
“With water-led planning, and mixed-use density, demand has been designed into the destination itself. That built-in consumer gravity is what ultimately drives developer returns and defines ALMA’s long-term value,” he added.
As Saudi Arabia’s real estate market continues to evolve and attract regional and international interest, ALMA Destination enters its next phase as a fully planned, infrastructure-completed mixed-use waterfront development. The project offers opportunities for residential, mixed-use, hospitality, marina, cultural, entertainment, and lifestyle developers and operators, alongside institutional and development-oriented investment partners, to participate in the phased vertical development of one of Jeddah’s most significant privately led waterfront destinations.
